Commercial Driver Handbook ( PDF ) - California Department of ...

• Lead students upwind of the bus at least 300
feet if there is a risk from spilled hazardous
materials.
• If the bus is in the direct path of a sighted tornado
and evacuation is ordered, escort students to a
nearby ditch or culvert if shelter in a building
is not readily available, and direct them to lie
face down, hands covering their head. They
should be far enough away so the bus cannot
topple on them. Avoid areas that are subject
to flash floods.
general proCedures
Determine if an evacuation is in the best interest
of safety.
• Determine the best type of evacuation:
— Front, rear, or side–door evacuation, or
some combination of doors.
— Roof or window evacuation.
• Secure the bus by:
— Placing transmission in Park, or if there is
no shift point, in Neutral.
— Setting parking brakes.
— Shutting off the engine.
— Removing ignition key.
— Activating hazard-warning lights.
• If time allows, notify dispatch office of the
evacuation location, conditions, and type of
assistance needed.
• Dangle radio microphone or telephone out of
driver’s window for later use, if operable.
• If no radio or the radio is inoperable, dispatch
a passing motorist or area resident to call
for help. As a last resort, dispatch two older,
responsible students to go for help.
• Order the evacuation.
• Evacuate students from the bus.
— Do not move a student you believe may
have suffered a neck or spinal injury unless
his or her life is in immediate danger.
— Special procedures must be used to move
neck spinal injury victims to prevent further
injury.
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• Direct a student assistant to lead students to
the nearest safe place.
• Walk through the bus to ensure no students
remain on the bus. Retrieve emergency
equipment.
• Join waiting students.
• Account for all students and check for their
safety.
• Protect the scene. Set out emergency warning
devices as necessary and appropriate.
• Prepare information for emergency responders.
RAIlROAD-hIghWAy
cROSSIngS
types of Crossings
Passive crossings. This type of crossing does
not have any type of traffic control device. You
must stop at these crossings and follow proper
procedures. However, the decision to proceed rests
entirely in your hands. Passive crossings require
you to recognize the crossing, search for any train
using the tracks and decide if there is sufficient
clear space to cross safely. Passive crossings have
yellow circular advance warning signs, pavement
markings and crossbucks to assist you in recognizing
a crossing.
Active crossings. This type of crossing has a traffic
control device installed at the crossing to regulate
traffic at the crossing. These active devices include
flashing red lights, with or without bells and flashing
red lights with bells and gates.
Warning signs and deviCes
Advance warning signs. The round, black-onyellow
warning sign is placed ahead of a public
railroad-highway crossing. The advance warning
sign tells you to slow down, look and listen for
the train, and be prepared to stop at the tracks if
a train is coming.
Pavement markings. Pavement markings mean
the same as the advance warning sign. They consist
of an “X” with the letters “RR” and a no-passing
marking on two-lane roads.